Morvern Games and Gala Week 2010 - Saturday 17th of July 2010

Morvern Highland Games, Gèamannan Gàidhealach a'Mhorbhairne agus seachdain spòrs

"The most scenic Highland Games of Scotland - An t-àite as brèagha do Gèamannan Gaidhealach ann an Alba"

Where: Knock Park, Lochaline
When: Saturday 17th of July
Entrance: donation only

Authentic Highland Games in rural setting. Heavy events, children's sports, Mid Argyll Pipe Band, woodcarver, the Morvern Mile, re-enactment group Battlefield Highland, dog agility competition, pantomime pony race, outdoor theatre demo, stalls and much more.

10.30 Children's sports
12.00 Official opening of the Games
13.30 Adult events
Men's Athletics and Ladies Athletics, 100m, 200m, High Jump, Long Jump, 1 Lap Race, Heavy Events, Throwing the Hammer, Putting the Shot, Tossing the Caber, Weight over the Bar, Weight for Distance
16.30 Pantomime pony competition followed by Morvern Mile, followed by Tug of War
17.00Presentation of Cups and Trophies and the Closing of the Games by Mid Argyll Pipe Band

Prizes Men's and Ladies Athletics, for adults 18 years and older
1st £20
2nd £12
3rd £8
4th £5

Prizes Heavy Events, for adults 18 years and older
1st £40
2nd £24
3rd £16
4th £10

Times subject to change

For more information about the events during the week, click on Programme Information.

A Short History of the Morvern Highland Games by Alastair Scoular

In the pre-war and early post war years, the Morvern Games was the main local social function of those times and one of the few occasions when people from various parts of the parish met up with each other. For some, the pleasure of meeting old friends again was enhanced by a visit to the licensed tent; in those days the only place that a dram or a bottle of beer could be bought in Morvern.

Many people travelled over from Oban, augmented by a very large number of the Morvern Diaspora from all over the country, on special sailings of the old Loch Fyne and the King George V. Others took the road from Ardgour, Strontian and Ardnamurchan by whatever means of transport was available.

Following an abeyance of thirty years, the games were revived in 1987, headed by the young organising committee of Stuart Jackson, chair; Johnny Scoular, secretary; and Colin Fergusson, treasurer. At that time the Ardgour and Sunart pipe band were very much to the fore, and they supplied the music in the early years of the game's revival. Oban Pipe Band then became the featured entertainment and this year will see their 14th appearance at Knock Park.

One of the more memorable side-events occurred in 1998 when a Pitts Special aerobatic biplane from Newcastle was scheduled to give an air display over the games at 3 pm. However the pilot got the date wrong and arrived 24 hours late, much to the amusement of the Morvern football team and the utter amazement of their opponents from Appin who thought that it was all part of the pre-match entertainment in the Village League game; they never really recovered from this as Morvern went on to win the game: 7-0.